World Snooker investigate Jamie Burnett betting suspension

World Snooker has launched an investigation after Stephen Maguire’s UK
Championship win over Jamie Burnett on Monday was overshadowed by reports of
irregular betting patterns.

On cue: Jamie Burnett in action at the UK Championships in TelfordPhoto: PA

By Telegraph staff and agencies

9:07PM GMT 15 Dec 2008

Bookmakers suspended activity on the first-round match in Telford after a flurry of bets were placed on a 9-3 scoreline in Maguire’s favour.

That did eventually prove the final score after world No 45 Burnett missed a black in the 12th frame that would have made it 8-4.

Burnett, who had trailed 6-2 at the resumption, has denied any wrongdoing and claimed the pressure, after hearing the rumours, got to him in that final frame. He said: “In the last frame I’ve never felt more pressure in my life. I didn’t think I could have played the colours knowing people have been saying things.

“On the black I said to myself, 'I need to get this, I need to get this’ in case some people start talking. I just felt so under pressure, probably the most pressure I have felt in my life.

“Then to come off was the lowest feeling, I felt terrible.”

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On the subject of match-fixing, he said: “People have been laughing and joking about things like that for years, but to my knowledge nobody has ever done anything. Snooker is too important, there is a career here.”

World Snooker did not comment directly on the match but issued a general statement outlining their procedures. It read: “We have arrangements in place with both Betfair and the Association of British Bookmakers, who contact World Snooker confidentially if irregular betting patterns emerge.

“In such cases the match in question is carefully monitored by World Snooker and a fair assessment of the player’s performance will be made. In past incidents, which are extremely rare, World Snooker has a particularly stringent line where players have been judged guilty of match-fixing or intention to match-fix.”

The controversy overshadowed an excellent performance by last year’s runner-up and world No 2 Maguire, who now faces Australian Neil Robertson, the 9-7 winner over Michael Holt, in the last 16.